Opposition rejects talks over 'rigged' poll

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Ukraine's political crisis deepened yesterday when the pro-West
opposition told thousands of protesters that it had rebuffed the
pro-Moscow Government's call for talks over the contested
presidential election.

The opposition, along with the US and many European countries,
say the ballot was rigged in favour of Prime Minister Viktor
Yanukovich over liberal opponent Viktor Yushchenko.

"I want to tell you that we will not hold negotiations with
Yanukovich and the people who surround him," Mykola Tomenko, a
close aide to Mr Yushchenko, told a huge crowd in Kiev's central
square.

Yesterday, outgoing President Leonid Kuchma - who has been
backing Mr Yanukovich - called for negotiations to defuse tensions
raised by three straight days of massive demonstrations.

Initially, opposition figures had said they would take part in
the talks - raising hopes of a peaceful end to the stand-off.

But those hopes faded yesterday as tens of thousands of people
rallied again in Independence Square despite freezing temperatures
and snow.

In scenes reminiscent of the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989,
more than 200,000 demonstrators cheered on Mr Yushchenko and called
for his rival to accept defeat.

"Ukraine is on the threshold of a civil conflict," Mr Yushchenko
said in Parliament, where he took a symbolic oath of office. "We
have two choices: either the answer will be given by the
Parliament, or the streets will give an answer."

The crisis erupted after Mr Yanukovich claimed victory in a
presidential run-off held at the weekend. Canberra yesterday joined
the US and the European Union in condemning it.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said: "Australia has serious
reservations about whether the official results will fully reflect
the will of the Ukrainian electorate.

We have two choices: either the answer will be given by the Parliament, or the streets will give an answer." Viktor Yushchenko

"I urge Ukrainian authorities to fully investigate the
irregularities reported in the electoral process and to review the
results together with international observers."

The unrest has led to a Cold War-style crisis in relations
between the West and Russia. The White House called for a review
while Russia warned against Western intervention.

"We strongly support efforts to review the conduct of the
election and urge Ukrainian authorities not to certify results
until investigations of organised fraud are resolved," the White
House said in a statement.

Russia has dismissed foreign charges of electoral fraud as
premature and arrogant. "Ukraine is a state of law. It doesn't need
to be lectured," Russian President Vladimir Putin said. In the
Russian Duma, ultra-nationalists urged military intervention.

Among the banners fluttering above the crowds in Kiev's
Independence Square were several depicting a red cross on a white
background - the national flag of Georgia. Exactly a year ago, tens
of thousands of Georgians rose up to overthrow Eduard Shevardnadze,
their president and former Soviet foreign minister, in a peaceful
uprising christened the Rose Revolution.

As in Ukraine, the popular revolt was sparked by falsified poll
results after Mr Shevardnadze's corrupt and ineffective party
refused to recognise electoral defeat. Mr Shevardnadze deployed
riot police and even brought in crowds of metal-wielding thugs from
western Georgia. But after three weeks of protest, he was forced to
capitulate when protesters overran Parliament. with Mark Forbes